Simard steps out on ‘Take Your MLA to Work Day’

Brandon East MLA Glen Simard spent Tuesday morning visiting two Career Connections Inc. clients at their workplaces as part of the annual Take Your MLA to Work Day.

Organized by the Manitoba Supported Employment Network, the initiative is designed to celebrate inclusive employment across the province.

The visits, which took place at Once Upon a Child clothing store and Patches Family Restaurant, highlighted the achievements of two CCI clients — Lillie Read, 23, and Andy MacGregor, 42 — who are thriving in their jobs with the Brandon-based employment agency’s support.

The visit meant a lot, said Read, who began working at Once Upon a Child in April.

“I like working here — it’s cool to have the MLA visit, especially on my birthday,” she said. “The experience has given me valuable workplace skills like managing store clearances.”

The visit was an opportunity to showcase the success of supported employment in action, Once Upon a Child owner Brianne Roblin told the Sun.

“Career Connections provides a real step in the right direction for people finding employment,” she said. “Lillie does great work — just like any other member of our staff. It was great to see Glen ask thoughtful questions about how we can help young people transition successfully from high school into the workforce.”

At Patches Family Restaurant, longtime employee Andy MacGregor proudly showed Simard around the kitchen where he has worked for 17 years as a dishwasher and prep cook.

“It’s pretty good working here,” MacGregor said. “The MLA’s visit is also a good one.”

The day was an eye-opening experience that underscored the value of inclusion, Simard told the Sun.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s beneficial not only for the employee, who gains meaningful work and income, but also for employers, who get dependable, hard-working staff. This isn’t charity — the people in programs like CCI’s are capable and dedicated workers.”

He added that he learned how supported employment is an “underutilized resource” and praised CCI for helping bridge the gap between training and employment. “Employers can feel confident tapping into this program,” he said. “It’s a win-win.”

Take Your MLA to Work Day — co-ordinated by MSEN in conjunction with Disability Employment Awareness Month — aims to highlight the abilities of workers living with disabilities and the importance of inclusive hiring, CCI executive director Rushana Davy told the Sun.

“This day allows our clients to showcase their workplaces and demonstrate that disability doesn’t mean inability,” Davy said. “We want employers to see the value these individuals bring.”

Davy said CCI currently supports around 150 active clients across western Manitoba, from Brandon to as far north as Flin Flon. Some, like MacGregor, have been with the organization for nearly two decades.

“One of the biggest benefits of hiring persons with disabilities is their reliability and dedication,” she said. “They don’t job-hop. Once trained, they are dependable and competent.”

Still, Davy noted that challenges remain — especially in changing employer perceptions.

“Many think disability means physical limitation and worry about accessibility costs,” she said. “But disabilities can be intellectual, cognitive or social — many aren’t visible. What we want to emphasize is that people with disabilities are valuable contributors to the workforce.”

Through visits like Tuesday’s, CCI and MSEN hope to deepen understanding, open doors for future employment opportunities and reinforce the idea that inclusion benefits everyone.

“This experience reminds us that supported employment strengthens communities — by helping every individual find their place in the workforce,” Simard said.

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